When you have a resplendent beard fit for a deity, pass the ball around effortlessly like a divine Leonardo da Vinci brushstroke and score one of the most delicious spot-kicks of all time, you have every right to forget you are human. Alas, the mercurial Andrea Pirlo fell back to Earth at the weekend after launching a penalty passed row Z and in to near-earth orbit.

Despite the miss against city neighbours Torino leaving the game tightly poised at 0-0, the uncharacteristic blunder proved academic in the end – with the Old Lady cruising to a 3-0 victory and a two point lead at the top of the Seria A table.

The blasted blooper couldn’t have been any more different than the delightful ‘Panenka’ scored for Italy against England in the Euro 2012 quarter-final and in a dance as old as time, the player gave a good five or six disdainful looks at the penalty spot before trotting back sorrowfully to midfield.